Elastic-fluid turbine.



W. J. A. LONDON.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11211.13, 1906. RENEWED 001230, 1912.

1,095,506, v Patented May 5,1914;

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M 5%.. ATTORNEY mum In"; M mm. msmnnnn, ov c.

W. J. A. LONDON.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLICATION FILED APB.13, 190s RENEWED OCT. 30,1912 1,095,506. Patented May 5, 1914.

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES:

)ATTORNEY W. J. A. LONDON.

ELASTIC FLUID TURBINE. APPLIOATION FILED APR. 13, 1906. RENEWED 001. so.1912.

1,095,506. j Patented May 5, 1914.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

0 03.9 l-O Q m WITNESSES q INVENTOR v L I fANTNRNEY a plurality ofindependent turbines, each primary turbine 'to which motive fluid-is Ytrated in t-hedraw iugs accompanyingthis up 20. an initial stage orsection to which motivefractionally, expand, in successive steps, the

0 sectiomis mounted on the turbine sha with the load demand.

UNITED STATES PATENT l f JAMES ALBERT LONDO PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATIELASTTq-FLUEl'D TURBINE.

dlpplication filed A ril 1831906. Serial No. 311,482.

I 7 '0 all w/wmjt may concern Be itjknowh that I. WILLIAM JAMES Anaan'rIbon'iiox, a subjectof the King of England, residing at 'Ilrafi'ordPark, Manchester, 5 llngland, have made a new and useful Intendon inElastic-Fluid Turbines, of which a the following is a specification,

v .This invention relates to elastic fluid tur bines. t 2 i 1 TheinventionQbroadl-y, consists of combining with aprimary or initialturbine a of which is adapted to be connected in series with andrecelve'motive fluid from the supplied in automatically regu-lableamounts. The embodiment of 'my invention as illusplication cont-prises aturbine provided with fluid is supplied through governor-controllednozzles. and a plurality of secondary stages, or sections, each of whichcommunicates with the initial section and is adapted 10 inot ive fluiddelivered from the initialsection and to abstract the available energydue to the said expansion by impulse and 'reac tion. Therotoreleme'nt'oif each site e, or and ON OF PENNSYLVANIA Kjieciflcationof Letters Patent.

the line formed in a. number of,

8 and 9 commun caslng 10.

mounted on the shaft vanes 21 is mounted onthec'a discharged one I g FMANCHESTER, ENGLAND, Assxenomnimssma ASSIGNMENTS, 'ro THE COLONIAL TRUSTCDMPANY, TRUSTE .93 .fi' f i lii Patented May til- 1914. v

Renewed omber a0, 1912.f"s iai"n6 25,7

cat-ion and forming a part thereof is a partial longi'tud embodying myinve tial side elevati Fig; 1.

"Fig-u inal section of .a tu rbi'ne ntion. v, Fig. 2 {jara on of 'thefturbinefshowniin Fig. 3 is a transverse section along The turbine consistsof and secondary stages 6,17 within a stationary ,ca's

a .ii itiitl' stag it 8,'.-. -d' 9. fi clo d W Q QIQ V. nu Se ti s Therotor element offleach Stage" is rigidly mounted on a shaft 11v a whichfis joiirnajled outside of the casing 10. The initial I receives motivefluid from a tqup ct governorAcont-rolled nozzlesjl2g, and communi-(ates with afrec'eiving' chamber '13. The secondary stage 6 com unicatesdirectly with the receiving chamber, TBjandtheisaicate"therewithfthrough d 16, formed 1 w the I H i 75 passages 14, 15 anThe initial stage compriseslta'f wheel 18,

ll a'nd provided with a two rows of peripherally-mounted *iinpiilse"blades 19.- A row of stationaiiiy jdi'recting n lt j l e moving b d m teflu'i l blades. and demanner to the mediate o'f the two rows, 19 and isadapted to receiv liver itin the most efiicie'nt an automatic valve isprovided between the othe r Th otive fl id jgu piyn zzlts 5 initialstage and the secondary stages which 12" are "arranged at one' end; ofthe lturbine "v ri h number of Secondary g t and, supply=niotive-fluid'to theinitial'stage communication therewith in accordance with 5 dm; mng dem mn' rtj pQi'tw f the load deman the pressurejenergy (mate motivefluid" into The object of this invention is the roduckineti n rgyiri'the' form velocity? bv 96 tlon of a turbineihat-will operatee'ciently xpanding the fluid from'fthe' 'initiallfij E's:- under a widerange of loads, and in which sureto a predeterminedfloiver iire'ssiire,and I automatic means are utilized for proportionthe impulse blades 19are'adapted to convert ing the motive fluid supply in accordancethefluid velocity into available' energv. The

A fu'rtherl object is the production of a turbine iniw'hi t-h the numberof working stagesare varied in accordance with the'load demand. v :1;l:. 11 1- A ,still. fl u'th er object is thepi'odiiction of a. turbinein which means are utilizedfor in- 1 (Teasing the efi'ective wonkingpassages vin t accordanceywith the amount .of motiyejfluid supplied. ,ffl heseand otherobjects I attain in a turbine embodying the featuresherein de jseribed and illustrated. I f j I I i-thedrawings accompanyingthis appliwith the casing 10;"

shaft 11 and a p'ortQ-"t is maintained aroii'nd motive fiuid dischargedfrom""theihinitial stage enters the receiving chamber liig wh'ich a is Iformed within the fci'sl ng" between the initial 'Sta geifand an f'isecondary stage 6'.

ease-11 th ,Th -ls a e'filece' a h ii vthie sitages 7 118; m1;9 tmpr1se; a. f v v le--100 ment QQQi-igidly mo untedo the if 11 stagecasing {extends inwardly "toivardffthe and" inc-losed 'vvithhi ca v ,4the i :shaft; and between; it and the inner perip'hery of the wall. Apacking25 which consists of interleaving groo veshnd formed on the shaftand stationary casing, seals the'joint between the shaft and a Wall 26of the stage casing.

Each rotor 22 is provided on both sides with rows of suitably mountedradially-arranged blades 27 interleaving with annular rows of stationarydirecting vanes 28, suitably mounted on the walls 23 and 26 ot' thecasing. The alternate rows of blades and vanes receive motive fluid fromthe port 24 and communication is provided between each side of therotorby a series of openings 29 arranged at thebase of the rotor --adjacentto the shaft of. the turbine. The port 24 of the secondary stage 6communicates directly with the receiving chamber 13, while each port-ofthe stages 7 8 and 9 communicate with an annular chamber 31, iorinedbetween the rear wall 26 of one stage casing and the forward wall 23 ofan adjacent-stage. Each stage 6, 7, 8 and 9v communicates with 'a commonexhaust passage 32, which isformed Within the casing 10, andcommunicates with the exhaust port not shown).

The chamber 31 of the respective stages 7 8 and9 connnunicates with avalve chamber 33 through the corresponding passages 14, 15 and 16.. Thevalve chamber 33 communicates with the receiving chamber 13 and isprovided with a piston valve 34, which is actuated by a governor 35,with which the turbine is provided. Ports 36, 37 and '30 are arranged inthe piston valve 34 and are adapted to communicate with the respectivepassages 14, 15 and 16 for certain positions of the piston valve and toadmit motive fluidfrom the receiving chamber 13 to the correspondingstage. The piston yalve is adapted to open the passages 14, 'If wand 16successively and to admit moti've fluid to the secondary stages inaccordance with the load demand of the turbine.

The nozzles 12' are divided into groups 38, 39, LO and 41 of a suitablenumber each and each group is inclosed within a chamber 43, whichcommunicates with a motive fluid supply passage 44 through a port 45.The motive fluid supply passage 44 communicates with a motive fluidinlet port 50, formed in the casing 10. A valve mechanism 46, adapted toregulate the flow of motive fluid through the port 45, comprises avalve'disk 47, mounted on a valve stem 48, which is connected to adifferential piston 49 of the valve-operating mechanism. The piston 49is located in the cylinder 51, which is bored to two diameters tocorrespond to the difierent diameters of the piston 49. A restrictedport 52 extends through the piston 49 and admits motive fluidv to achamber 53 above the pistoih' and the lower and smaller face of thepiston is exposed' to the flu d pressure of the supply passage 44. An

annular chamber 54 is formed in the casing of the cylinder 51. adjacentto the ring formed by thediflerent diameters of the differential piston49 and communicates with the atmosphere .through a. port 55. Under suchconditions the. disk 47 ,is' normally held to its seat on the walls ofthe port ber which acts above the piston 49 in opposition to the fluidpgessure of the pas: sage 44 on the lower face of the piston. T he topportion 'of the chamber 53 communicates with a cylinder 56 of agovern0rcontrolled relay device through a tube 58. The cylinder 56communicates with the exhaust passage 32 through a pipe or passage 59and is provided with a governor-operated piston 61, which is adapted toopen and close ports 62, 63, 64 and 65 to the exhaust pipe 59, The valvechamber 53 of the valveoperating mechanism of'each of the groups 38, 39,40 and 41 respectively communicate with the ports 62, 63, 64 and 65through the separate tubes or passages 58. The piston' 61 is providedwith a piston rod 66. which extends through a suitable gland in the endwall of the cylinder 56 and connects with a lever 67, which isfulcrlu'ned at 68 on 45 by the fluid pressure in the chamthe casing 10of the turbine and which is attached to a governor-actuated sleeve onthe governor standard.- A link'69 is attached to the lever-67 at 71 andto a lever 72, fulcrumed on a rod 73. which is journaled in suitablebrackets formed integrally with the casing 10. A lever 74 is rigidlymounted, on the rod 73 and operates the piston valve 34 through a valvestem 75. i

The governor the controlling valves of the nozzle groups 38. 39. 40 and41 and the piston valve 34 are so arranged that the number of nozilegroups efl'ectit'e in delivering motive fluid to the turbine and thenumber of secondary stages communicating with the receiving chamber 13of the turbine is varied in accordance with the load demand or the speedof the turbine.

During the normal operation of the turbine. the nozzle-controlling relaydevice i so arranged that the fiort 62. which extends through the casingof the cylinder 5a; and which conin'iunicates with the chamber 53 oi thevalve-cmitrolling mechanism of the groups 39 is opened to the exhaust.The port 52. through which steam is admitted to the chamber 53 from thefluid supply passage 44. is of sucn size, relative to the exhaust port62. that the flow of motive fluid througl'i the chamber will beunrestricted and the pressure will consequently drop and permit thevalve disk 47 to be raised bythv fluid )ressure on the under side of the'nston 49. thereby admitting stean'i to the turbine through the nozzlesof the group '38.

As the load increases and the speed of the turbine decreases, thegovernor 3:? will move the piston 61 to such a position that theary'stage 7' when the nozzles all) expanded throughout a termite rowsntmoving blades and station- 'Jort 63 will also onnntmi atc with theexaust and the controlling mechanism of thc nozzlesofthe group 3!) willraise the valve disk 47 and inlniit'ii'ioti\'e fluid to the turbinethrough the nozzles of the group 3!). The iston valve 34 and itsoperating links and eversare so arranged that the passage 14Willcoinmunicate with the recci 'ing chamber 13 an'dadmit motive fluidto the secondof the group 39 are admitting-motive fluid to the turbineAs the turbine continues to decrease in speed, the nozzle groups 40 and41 are successively openedtothe motive fluid supply passage'44- and theports 37 and 30 of the piston valve 34' successively open the passa'ges15 and; respectively and admit motive fluid from the receiving chamber1:, to the corresponding secondary stages. Finally at a predeterminedreduction in spe d of the'turbineg all the nozzles are open andslfpplying motive fluid to theturbine and all the secondary stages arein communication with the receiving chamber and operating under fullpressure.

The ports 24 of the secondary stages a re ofsuch a size that each willeffectively convey tbefcnp'anded motive fluid admitted to the turbinc'by one group of nozzles and since an ad'di'tiimal stage is renderedeffective as a as each group l have-a widerange of cilicient irl'lach"scornlary stage is dircctlv it! the sl' aust passage sii'htautially noresistance l the rotorvelemcntwill A number .epa-ratc valves, eitherdirectly operatedbv'thegovernor or an auxiliary rclay dcvice. may beSllhStltlltBtl for the piston valvc I-Ktamlvarious methods may be"utilized tor controlling the valves of the separate nozzle groups and.while I have illustrugml'my invention as en'ibodied in a turl'iinentilizing' an impulse section as an initial stagd and a plurality ofsecondary stage. inwhich-the motive fluid is fractionary van es.:l wishit to be specifically understood that I do not. limit myself to thearrangement'shownand described and that any type, or an y combination oflypes.- may be ntilized'a'ndstill' fall within the spirit and scopeof myinvention. I What I. 'clainias new and useful and sire to secure byLetters Patent is: 1. In an elastic fluid turbine, an initial stage, aplnrality 'of secondary stages and speed responsive means for varyingthenumber of secondarystagcs comn'iunicating with said initial stage. 2.In an elastmfiuxd turbine, an initial stage, a plurality of secondarystages m ance with the load demand.

2-12 and will,

Sltlg", 2i governor number oi alpressure turbines effective as "1(). .Inan elast c fluid tnrb ne, an.1n1t1al combination therewith, means forvarying the motive fluid supplied to said initial stage and for varyingthe numberof secondary stages communicating therewith in 'accord- 3. Inan elastic fluid turbine, the combinalion of a plurality ofgovernor-controlled supply nozzles, an initial stage communicatingtherewith, a plurality of secondary stagesand governor-controlled meansfor putting said secondary stages into communication. with said initialstage. n

4. In an elastic fluid turbine,- an initial stage, a. phu'ality ofsecondary stages, a plurality of valves admitting motivc fiuid tosaidinitial stage, governor controlled means for successively operatingsaid valves and means, operating siml'iltaneously with said valves, forsuccessively opening communication between said initial stage and saidsccimdary stages.

ln coml'iination with a high-pressure turbine element. a lmv-pressnrcturliine-elelnent. receiving fluid exhausted from said high-pressureturbine element, and speed responsive means for lrv-passing a portion oisaid fluid around said lo\\-'-prcssure turbine element.

6. In combination with.a high-pressure turbine element, a lowressureturbine element receiving motive aid from said highprcssurc turbineelement. a second low-pressure turbine element and speed responsivemeans for Irv-passing exhaust fluid from said high-pressure turbineelement around "the first of said low-prcssure turbine elements to saidsecond lm -prcssure turbine element.

7. In combination in a turbine, an initial stage, a plurality ofsccondarystages and governor controlled means for varying the number ofsecondarystages ciiecti ve as work-, ing agents.

h. In combination in a turbine, an initial stage, a plurality ofsecomlary stages, aplu ralitv of admission valves for said initialcontrolling n'iechanisrn for controlling the operation of said valvesand governor controlled means for rendering one or more of saidsecondary stages effective as working agents of said turbine.

9. u an organized apparatus, a high pressure turbine. a plurality of lowpressure turbines operating on a common shaft, :1 common exhaust forsaid low pressure turbines and means, dependent on the load on said-.apparatus, for varying the numberoflow working agents.

stage., a plurality of secondarj stages receiving motive fluidtherefrom, means for controllingthc delivery of fluid :to said secondarystages and means whereby, when the inletto one of. said stages closed,the-rotor element of said stage is caused toxoperate in; asvacuum.

11. In combination in an. elastic fluid turbine, an initial stage, aplurality of secondary stages communicating therewith,independentainletports for said secondary sta es, means, dependent onthe s eed of said v.tur ine, for Lcontrolling the a mission of fluidtosaid inlet-portsand means whereby,

when the inlet to one of said secondary stages is closed, said stageissubjected to vacuum pressure.

12. In combination with a source of exhaust steamvsupply, a plurality ofturbines adapted to operate in parallel relation on steam from saidsupply, and a governing device forautomatically controlling the supplyof steam to said turbines.

13. In combination with a high pressure turbine, a plurality of lowpressure turbines receivin motive 'fluid therefrom and rovided with acommon shaft and a speed responsive means for controlling the deliveryand means for automatically. distributing the exhaust from said highpressure turbine element to one or more of said elements opcrating inparallel.

16. In combination with a high pressure" turbine element, two or morelow pressure turbine elements having a common exhaust,

and speed responsive means for distributing the exhaust motive fluidfrom said high pressure turbine element to saidlow pressure turbineelements so that one or more may operate in series with said highpressure element and two or more in parallel one with the other.

17. In combination with a high pressure turbine element, a plurality oflow pressure turbine elements, and speed responsive means for causingsaid low pressure turbme elements to operate in series with said highpressure turbine element and in parallel one with theother.

18. In combination in a multi-stageturbine, a plurality of stagesoperated in par allel, independent inlets and a common exhaust for thestages and means, dependent onthe load on the turbine, for controllingthe delivery of motive fluid to said stages.

' 19. In a multi-stage elastic fluid turbine, a lurality of stagesoperating in parallel, in ependent inlets and a common exhaust for thestages and means, dependent on the and exhaust mosses load on theturbine, for automatically rendering one orm'o're of said stagesefl'ective as a power delivering element of the tub bine.

20. In combination in a multi-stage turbine, a plurality of stages, therotor elements of which are mounted on a common shaft, independentinlets and a common exhaust for the stages and means for varying thenumber of stages eflt'ective as working elements of the turbine. I ,f

21. In combination with a fluid ..irnpelled motor, a plurality ofturbine elements "receiving motive fluid therefrom and provided with acommon exhaust and means, dependent on the load, for controlling thedelivery offluid to said motor and to said turbine elements. 4

22. In combination with'a fluid impelledengine, a plurality of turbineelements adapted to receive motive fluid therefrom and speed responsivemeans for. rendering one or more of said elements effective as powerdelivering agents.

23. In combination with a fluid impelled engine, a plurality of turbineelements receiving motive fluid therefrom and operat ing in parallel andmeans, dependent on the load, for rendering one or more of said turbineelements efl'ective as power delivering agents and for imposing thegoverning function upon one of said elements.

24. In combination with a fluid impelled engine, a plurality of turbineelements receiving motive fluid therefrom, a common exhaust andindependent admission ports for said elements and means, dependent onthe load, for delivering motive fluid. to one or more of said elementsand imposing the governing function upon one of said elements. Y

25. In combination with a fluid impelled engine, a plurality of turbine.elements receiving motive fluidthcrefrom and speed responsive means ,forcontrolling the delivery of motive fluid to said engine andforproportioning the moti've fluid to said ele- V 4 ments.

26. In combination with a high pressure turbine element provided "with agoverning device, of a plurality of low pressure turbine elementsadapted to operate in parallel one with the other, and in series withsaid high pressure element, anda governing device for distributing theexhaust motive fluid from said high pressure element to said lowpressure elements.

27. In combination with a high-pressure turbine element, two lowpressure turbine elements, conduit means for delivering exhaust motivefluid from said high-pressure element around oneofsaid low-pressureelements and to the other of said low-pressure elements, and speed"responsive means for controlhng said conduit means.

28. In combination with a. hlgh'PI'QSSHI'G turbine element, two or morelow-pressure turbine elements, conduit means for leading the exhaustfrom said high-pressure element to said low-pressure elements, valvemechanism for controlling said conduit means, and a speed responsivedevice for governing said mechanism.

29. In combination 'ii'vith a source of exhaust steam supply, aplurality of turbines adapted to operate in parallel relation on steamfrom said supply, and a governing device for automatically distributingthe steam I to said turbines.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto 15 subscribed my name this 28th ofMarch, 1906.

ATHoL WILFRID CLARKE, WVILLIAM HERBERT WALLIs.

